英语短语"can't help"的含义和用法需根据搭配结构和上下文区分,核心围绕“无法控制/避免”或“不能帮助”,以下是详细解析:
表示因情绪、本能或外界刺激,无法控制自己做出某个动作,是最常用的用法。
例子:
1、 When I saw his funny face, I couldn't help laughing out loud.(看到他滑稽的脸,我忍不住大笑起来。)
2、 She can't help smiling when she thinks about her childhood.(想到童年,她情不自禁地笑了。)
3、 I can't help feeling nervous before public speaking.(演讲前我忍不住紧张。)
强调客观情况或逻辑上的必然,“不得不做某事”,有时可与“can't help doing”互换,但更侧重“无奈的必然”。
例子:
1、 I can't help but admit that he's better at this than me.(我不得不承认他比我更擅长这个。)
2、 When I saw the poor cat, I couldn't help but take it home.(看到那只可怜的猫,我忍不住把它带回家了。)
3、 You can't help but respect her hard work.(你不得不佩服她的努力。)
表示某件事是客观上无法控制或改变的,只能接受,常用被动结构。
例子:
1、 The rain delay can't be helped—we just have to wait.(下雨延误是没办法的事——我们只能等。)
2、 It can't be helped that we missed the bus; the traffic was terrible.(没赶上公交是没办法的——交通太堵了。)
3、 Don't worry about the mistake—it can't be helped.(别担心这个错误——没办法的事。)
此处“help”回归本义“帮助”,表示没有能力/时间帮助他人做某事。
例子:
1、 I'm sorry I can't help you with your homework—too busy tonight.(抱歉我不能帮你做 homework——今晚太忙了。)
2、 She can't help her brother move to the new apartment this weekend.(这周末她不能帮弟弟搬新家。)
3、 Can you help me? —Sorry, I can't help you right now.(你能帮我吗?——抱歉,我现在帮不了你。)
结构 | 侧重点 | 例子 |
---|---|---|
can't help doing | 情绪/本能驱动的“忍不住” | I can't help missing her.(忍不住想她) |
can't help but do | 客观/逻辑上的“不得不” | I can't help but miss her.(不得不想她) |
“can't help”的核心是“无法控制/避免”,最常用的结构是can't help doing sth(忍不住做)和can't help but do sth(不得不做);
被动结构sth can't be helped表示“某事无法避免”;
字面义“不能帮助”需结合“help sb (with/do sth)”使用。
根据上下文判断含义,搭配不同的结构即可正确使用~